The Holy Life and Happy Death of John Bruen, Chapter 56
CHAP. LVI.
THeſe are ſome, but let us attend unto more. They that are rich in this world,He was rich in good workes. 1 Tim. 6, 18. are charged to be rich in good workes, to diſtribute unto the neceſſities of the ſaints, to give themſelvs to hoſpitality, and not to forget to entertain ſtrangers, for therby ſome have entertained Angels unawares.
This Gentleman was ever ready according to his portion, and proportion, to be rich in good workes, and full of good fruits, and ſo gave himſelf to great hoſpitality, to entertain ſtrangers, and to refreſh the bowels of the ſaints.
His houſe was as the common Inne,His Hoſpitality. or conſtant harbour of the Church, and of Gods children, and himſelfe as Gaius, a godly and good Hoſte, to give them liberall, and cheer full entertainment, as they came unto him. None ſo welcome to eate of his morſels, or to drinke of his cup, as ſuch ſtrangers, as were no ſtrangers in Iſraell, For Gods children.nor ſtrangers from the Covenant of promiſe, but fellow Citizens with the Saints, and of the houſhold of God, Such there were, Many paſſengers from London to Ireland, and from Ireland into England, many travellers, horſemen and others out of Lancaſhire, and the fartheſt parts of Cheſhire, who would, (as they had occaſion to come to the Courts, or Faires of Cheſter) take up his houſe for their lodging place, not ſo much I conceive for the eaſe, and refreſhing of their bodies, as for the comfort, and rejoycing of their hearts, in ſeeing his face, in hearing his voice, in conferring and adviſing with him, in having a portion in his prayers, and a part in his praiſes unto God with him.
His proviſion for his Table in plenty and varietie.Now for his ordinary Table which hee kept for his hoſpitality, it was bountifull, and plentifull, not unto exceſſe and ſuperfluity, but unto a very competent ſufficiency, and that with great, variety of Gods good creatures, ever ready to his hand.
His flight of Pidgeons the beſt in the Countrey, his Warrens of Conyes, not inferiour to many, his delicate Fiſh-ponds, ſurpaſſing all about him, (which were the better for his owne skill, care, and paines, which he took himſelf with them) all theſe (being bleſt of God unto him) might well furniſh his table, together with other ordinary proviſion, in and about his houſe, for the comfort and contentment of any ſuch ſtrangers as would come unto him.
Hee could not endure any riot or excoſſe.In all this great plenty and abundance, he would never ſuffer any wilfull waſte, nor could hee endure any wanton or wicked abuſe of Gods good creatures; his Buttery was open and free for any Gentleman, Servingman, Countreyman, ſo farre as they kept themſelves within the liſts, and limits of moderation, and ſobriety. But as for exceſſive drinking, quaffing, carrowſing, drinking and pledging of healths, and the like ſhamefull diſorders, even unto beaſtly drunkenneſſe in great houſes, the order and manner of his family was knowne ſo well,No quaffing, no drunkennes, no healthing, in his houſe. that of thoſe which did come unto it, ſeldome or never was there any ſo impudent, and ſhameleſſe, as would give him, or his ſervants, any juſt occaſion of offence, or grievance, by ſuch lewd behaviour, and miſdemeanour in ſuch things. Thus far of his hoſpitality towards ſtrangers, one of his ſweet fruits of grace and mercy.
His charity to his poore neighbours. Firſt for their bellies. His dole dayes twice a week. In the time of dearth almoſt every day.Now let us looke yet for more fruit, in his charitable bounty towards his poore neighbours.
The neceſſities of the poore in their hunger, and cold, for want of food and raiment, did ever marvellouſly affect, and afflict his heart. And as he had a mercifull heart to pitie them, ſo had hee an open both heart and hand to relieve them.
He did uſually to his great expence and coſt, fill the bellies of great multitudes, which out of his owne and other Pariſhes, did twice a weeke reſort unto his houſe for that end. And in the deare yeares he made proviſion for them, almoſt every day in the week, and would many times ſee them ſerved himſelfe, both to keep them in good order, and to make an equall diſtribution, according to the difference of their neceſſities, amongſt them.His bounty in giving and lending. Hee had his purſe ever ready, as the poore mans boxe, or coffer, to give, and ſometimes to lend freely to thoſe that would borrow, and pay again, his admonition was, remember your promiſe, keepe your day, and pay againe, if you will borrow againe. And if hee ſaw any willing,Money. but not able to pay what they borrowed, he would rather forgive the debt, than exact it. But if he found any to deale fraudulently and falſly with him, either denying the debt, or pleading repayment, or pretending ſome kinde of ſatisfaction, as one dealt with Spiridion the Biſhop of Cyprus, Sozom. hiſt. Ecel. l. 1. c. 11.to whom hee had lent ſome meaſures of corne, hee would then rebuke them ſharpely and take heed of lending to ſuch deceitfull perſons any more.
In the time of a great dearth,Or corne. fearing that divers of his poore neighbours were in great want, as having neither money nor meate: Hee tooke an opportunity, when the moſt of his family were gone abroad to a publike exerciſe of religion, to call for the keyes of the Store-houſe, where the corne lay, and preſently hee ſent into the towne to ſuch perſons as were the greateſt needers, willing them to bring their baggs with them, which they did without delay, and ſo to ſupply their wants, hee gave them freely and with a cheerefull heart, ſome fourteene meaſures of corne amongſt them at that time.
Now as hee was carefull to fill their bellies,2 Merciful to the poore in clothing their bodies alſo Job 31.19 20. ſo was hee mindfull of clothing their backes and bodies alſo. He was loth to ſee any (as Job ſpeaketh) periſh for want of clothing, or any poore want covering. Yea the loynes of the poore did bleſſe him, being warmed with the fleece of his flocke, or clothed by the coſt of his purſe.
It was his ordinary manner every yeare againſt Winter,3. Proviſion. He provides for them out of his own purſe yeerly. to ſend ſome foure or five pounds to Cheſter, to make proviſion for the clothing of the poor, which ſeeing it could not reach unto all, he wiſely divided amongſt ſeverall families, to ſuch this year, as had none the laſt, and to ſuch the next year, as had none this. Now as theſe fruits of his mercy and charity were manifeſt in the proviſion which he made for the poore,4. Protect. He protects and defends them. ſo were there ſome others as conſpicuous in the protection which he ſought and found for them. For hee might truly ſay in ſome good meaſure, he had done as Job did, and found the like bleſſing that he found.Iob 29.12 13, 15.16, 17. I delivered the poore that cryed, the fatherleſſe, and him that had none to helpe him. The bleſſing of him that was ready to periſh came upon me, and I cauſed the widdowes heart to ſing for joy. I was eyes to the blinde, and feet to the lame. I was a father to the poore, and the cauſe which I knew not, I ſearched out. And I brake the jawes of the wicked, and pluckt the ſpoile out of his teeth.
Thus was hee a protector of the poore, to deliver them out of the hands of thoſe that were too ſtrong for them.
He was alſo as a counſellor to defend their righteous and juſt cauſe,5. Advice. He counſels them, and as hee is able doth plead for them. Prov. 31.8, 5. and to plead for them, and applying himſelfe to that counſell which Bathſheba gave to her ſonne Lemuel, He opened his mouth for all that were in danger and diſtreſſe, as they came unto him, Hee opened his mouth for the dumbe, to judge righteouſly for them, and to pleade the cauſe of the poore and needy, as they had occaſion to uſe him.